Bodies of two girls in school uniforms found hanging from tree in Malkangiri forest in Odisha

The girls, who were missing for two days, were identified as Jyoti Haldar (13), and Mandira Sodi (13)

PTI, 09.02.25 : Bodies of two girls in school uniforms were found hanging from a tree in a forest in Odisha’a Malkangiri district, police said on Saturday.

The girls, who were missing for two days, were identified as Jyoti Haldar (13), daughter of Tinar Haldar of MV 74 village and Mandira Sodi (13), daughter of Baga Sodi of MV 126 village, an officer said.

Both were studying in standard VII in a local school.

The family members had lodged a complaint, stating that they did not return home on Thursday after school.

They searched for the two minors but could not find them.

Hence, Mandira Sodi’s mother Mamata Sodi filed a complaint at MV 79 Police Station on Friday.

Locals found the two bodies hanging from a tree in the forest, the officer said.

After receiving the information, the police personnel of MV 79 Police Station and Motu Police Station along with Malkangiri SDPO Sachin Patel reached the spot and initiated a probe into the incident, he said.

A case has been registered, the officer added.

Sambadenglish reports that the duo went missing from their village on February 6 (Thursday).

Their families had lodged two separate complaints in this regard with police on February 7 (Friday). However, the two girls were found hanging from a mango tree in a nearby forest today morning. 

Some locals spotted the bodies hanging in a dupatta and informed the incident to police. Soon the cops rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies before sending them for postmortem. 

The cops have launched a probe into the incident. They also visited the nodal school and talked to the teachers and other students as part of their investigation. 

A scientific team has also been called in to assist in the probe. 

School bags and foot wears, which can be believed as belonging of the deceased girls, have been found fallen near the bodies.